Lyonsdown News - 10th May 2019

From the Headmaster’s Desk

In a week where dramatic comebacks were ten a penny, Lyonsdown returned from the long weekend without breaking its stride.

A huge range of trips, both educational and sporting, have filled the calendar alongside the children’s usual lessons. New developments also continue, with the Lyonsdown Learning Committee meeting to discuss further improvements to our soft skills scheme, so that children recognise the attributes they are demonstrating, and are praised as such.

As each class looks forward to moving to the next year group, with Year 5 continuing to prepare for the Secondary School transfer process, these learning habits become even more important: they help the children remember that the journey is as important as the destination. On a practical note, I have been meeting with many Year 4 and 5 parents to offer support during the future schools’ process. If your daughter is in Year 4 or above and you would like to speak to Mrs Windsor or I about next steps, please do contact us and we would be happy to meet at a time that is convenient for you. Our Open Day was a wonderful highlight of the week. The majority of families tell us that the school was “recommended by a current parent” on their form, and I would like to pass on my thanks to you all for speaking about us so highly. Although we had no ducklings hatching this time round (Mrs Murphie promises wild fowl will return), our STEAM focused activities shone through. Every single child has a role to play on days such as these; they are a credit to the school and my heart swells with pride when I receive emails such as: “we really enjoyed seeing the school; the lessons were amazing, and the teachers so accommodating” and “all of the girls were excellent guides and provided an invaluable insight into the school from the children's experience.” Bravo, one and all.

Next week brings Mrs Polak’s “Happy Puzzle Company” day, to promote the use of creative Maths within the curriculum, as well as football and athletics trips from Miss Doyle. Year 6 will show their flexibility by hosting a French café with Mme Walker and also travelling to sites of both political (parents – do ask them about the suffragettes) and artistic importance, in what must be the best cross-over school trip in North London.

All the best for a relaxing weekend.

Mr Hammond

Mr Hammond’s Challenge:

With no book recommendations being sent in, it appears I have free reign to purchase as many copies of books about Liverpool Football Club as possible – excellent news. However, I hope the potential reward of five (yes, five!) house points will be enough to encourage a flurry of letters explaining why the new library should hold a copy of your favourite book.

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Year 1

This week, Year 1 have been learning about capacity in our Maths lessons.

The children have been measuring the capacity of different objects using standard (ml and l) and non-standard units.

The children had great fun estimating, measuring and, of course, getting wet when finding out the capacity of different objects.

The Year 1 Team

Reception Reception greet one year old Riyan!

Immersed in their topic on growth, the children continue to enjoy sharing their own baby images displayed along the staircase wall detailing each pupil's development to date. Thank you so much for these wonderful photographs!

The children were very excited to meet Freya's younger brother and observe how he communicates, how he plays with his favourite toys and how quickly he can crawl across the classroom.

Our thanks to Freya’s mummy and brother.

The Reception Team

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Year 1

We were very lucky in Year 1 on Thursday.

Rania’s mummy came to talk to us about the month of Ramadan.

The children listened beautifully and prepared questions to ask.

Thank you to Rania’s mummy, Reception really enjoyed your visit.

The Year 1 Team

Year 3

On Tuesday, Year 3 had a trip to Hyde Park. We were visiting their beautiful education centre to take part in workshops on Sustainability and on Orienteering and map skills. We were so lucky with the weather as the sun shone all day, allowing us to take part in all of the outdoor activities and have a picnic in this world famous park. Mrs Northage had done us proud with the flapjacks! The highlight of the day was the orienteering challenge, which saw the four groups of girls dashing around the park to find the clues and answer the questions. The adults had to run to keep up.

We had a fabulous day.

Mrs Smith

Year 2

This week in Year 2, the children have been looking at rounding numbers. We have looked at rounding to the nearest 10 and 100. The children loved playing a rounding game in pairs. Well done, Year 2.

The Year 2 Team

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Poetry Corner

Following last term’s performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Savannah D in Year 5 was inspired to write this wonderful poem. Well done!

I am the troll of the night,

I will give your children a fright.

When you aren’t looking I’ll burst your tyre,

Then set your hair on fire.

I’ll made your phone die,

And planes fall out of the sky.

I’ll shake your fizzy drinks,

And crack all the ice rinks.

I’ll make you miss your bus,

And fill all your spots with pus.

I’ll pop all of your balloons,

And delete your favourite cartoons.

I’ll play music too loud,

Over your head I’ll place a cloud.

I’ll untie your shoes,

And give you the weekend blues.

I’ll nudge you down the stair,

As you say your morning prayers.

In case you aren’t aware,

I don’t really care,

Because rules don’t apply to me,

As I am Puck, the fairy.

Years 5 and 6

Geography News

As part of their study of Mountains, Volcanoes and Earthquakes, Years 5 and 6 have been learning about plate tectonics. Here, Year 6 recreate what happens at constructive plate boundaries. If your child is in Year 5 or 6, do ask her for an in-depth explanation!

Mrs Brighton

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Reading News

Shakespeare Monologue Drama Competition

Well done to Delilah, Safiya, Martina, Shivaty and Sia for entering into the

Lyonsdown round of the ISA Shakespeare monologue competition this year, and

especially to Shivaty and Delilah who went through to the finals, we were very

proud of all of our thespians!

International Book Aid

Thank you to all who helped raise funds for International Book Aid back in March.

Lyonsdown raised a staggering £591 and that equates to 296 new books sent to

those who need them.

Reading ideas List

I would like to remind parents that on our website, we have lists of suggested

books which might interest your child. The titles are organised into Year groups.

The lists should be used as a guide, to support children in developing their own

reading preferences and not as a mandatory reading list to be methodically

worked through! The lists can be viewed for each Year group from the drop down

menu on the Parent Portal – they do not require a password to access. Of course,

the children are very enthusiastic to recommend books that they have enjoyed to

their peers.

Parent Talk: how to encourage your children to read

I’m very pleased that Dr Rhona Stainthorp from Reading University, Institute of

Education is visiting Lyonsdown on Thursday 25th June, from 7pm, to give our

parent talk for this term. I know that the evening will be informative and full of

useful and supportive tips and tricks on how to support and encourage (rather

than nag and cajole!) children to read. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

More details of this event will be emailed to you shortly.

Artist of the Week

Congratulations Elena (Year 6)

Year 6 pupils recently designed and made their own shoe

sculptures inspired by Antonio Gaudi’s architecture work. They

used a variety of techniques and materials to construct the shoe

shape and to add decorative elements. Elena’s shoe design was an

eye catching, highly original piece of work showing excellent

creativity. Well done.

Mrs Cowie

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Pride of Place

It is always lovely to hear our pupils being praised and

complimented for their behaviour and the way they

consistently exhibit our Lyonsdown values and ethos:

of being kind, thoughtful, polite and considerate of

others - always.

This week, our meal time supervisors came to me to

report on the children’s consistently good behaviour

during lunch breaks. The recent wet weather has led

to the necessity of some indoor playtimes, and Year 6

have shown good citizenship and initiative in

volunteering to help look after the younger children

and to ensure that they are engaged in suitable

indoor activities during their break.

On Wednesday, Year 6 went on a guided walk around Hadley Common (as part of their learning in history on The

Battle of Barnet), and on return to school, I received the following message from our guide: the girls were

extremely well-behaved and engaged, and good company.

I am looking forward to taking Year 6 away on their residential trip to the Isle of Wight in a fortnight’s time. One of

the reasons that I find the experience so enjoyable, is that I know that our pupils will receive many compliments

from members of the public, as well as from the educational and tour guides that we meet during our time away.

Year 5 too, were no different on their recent three day trip to PGL last week. Once again, our pupils’ manners and

general thoughtfulness of others shone through and was noted by the staff at the centre. But more so, the support

and encouragement each gave to the other when completing the many challenges set, and the joy that was shared

when a challenge was mastered was a privilege to witness.

Manners do matter, and Lyonsdown pupils have these in abundance. We are very proud of them all.

Mrs Windsor

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The Week Ahead

Mon 13th Happy Puzzle Company in School. Year 4 Football Tournament (Miss Doyle to send further details). Tues 14th Year 3 -Year 6 ISA Athletics (Miss Doyle to send further details).

Wed 15th French Café for the Grandparents and families of Year 6 pupils. Reception trip to Barnet Countryside Centre.

Fri 17th Year 6 trip to The Houses of Parliament and Irregular Choice.

Lunch Menu: week commencing: 13th May 2019

Yogurts & fresh fruit available daily. HM—Homemade V—Vegetarian MSC - Certified Sustainable Seafood

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Main Course Option 1

Meat Free Monday

Sweet Potato and Cheese Slice

HM V Tomato Pasta

Fish Fingers MSC

New Potatoes

Chilli-Con-Carne HM

Wholegrain Rice

A Taste of India Chicken Tikka HM

Pilau Rice HM Cucumber Raita

Cheese and Tomato Pizza

V HM

Vegetarian Option 2

Quorn Sausage V Baked Potato

Slices

Spanish Omelette V HM

Garlic Pasta

Penne Arrabiata V HM

Tandoori Paneer Kebabs HM V

Bombay Potatoes HM

Quorn Burger in a Bun Oven

Chips

Sides Broccoli Baked Beans Green Salad

Carrot Batons Green Beans Green Salad

Peas Roast Cauliflower

Green Salad

Rainbow Coleslaw

Cucumber Sticks Green Salad

Sweetcorn Carrot Batons Green Salad

Desserts Fruit Yoghurts and Fruit Pots

HM

Lemon Sponge and Custard

HM Butterscotch

Mousse

Fruit Pots HM Yoghurts

Apricot Coconut Crunch HM

Vegetarian Jelly Pot HM

Melon Wedges HM

Yoghurts